Electric Heat (9 page)

The medical supplies he produced were meager. She peeled up
the jaguar’s bloodied shirt, wincing when it stuck to the wound. The cat
flinched, but seemed too fascinated with watching her to be bothered much.

Small swirls decorated his back. Curious about the marks,
she brushed her fingers over them. Much to her surprise, it felt like she was
running her hand over fur. The cat arched into her touch and purred, watching
her through eyes narrowed in pleasure.

Unnerved by his reaction, Raven jerked back then flushed when
she realized the small touch had been such an intimate gesture. Pushing away
her embarrassment, she focused on the injury. If anything, it looked worse than
when he’d first hacked away a piece of himself.

Blood and pus oozed from the wound, along with a rotten
stench that discouraged breathing. When she probed the skin around the injury, she
found it hot to the touch. More than just shifter hot. “He has a fever.”

Durant nodded without bothering to look away from his
search. “We run hotter when we’re fighting infection and healing.”

She accepted his answer but wasn’t satisfied. She smeared a
whole tube of antiseptic on the wound, and covered the injury with gauze before
wrapping his torso with the meager bandages. Not once did he react to her touch
or flinch away from her, despite the pain she must have caused.

She went to the sink, soaped up a rag and walked back to the
shifter. “Why don’t you clean up?”

He cocked his head as if trying to understand her,
automatically accepting the rag. The tips of his fingers brushed along the back
of her hand, but before she could react, the touch was gone. He avoided her eyes
and sniffed the rag.

All at once the air hummed with power and pleasure tickled
along her skin. Raven straightened, a smile tugging at her lips. Only one
person could make such an entrance. “Rylan.”

She walked toward the door, placed her hand on the knob, but
couldn’t make herself turn it. At the prospect of seeing him again, her every
muscle locked tight. In the next few days, he would literally decide her fate.
She trusted him with her life and those of her pack, so why couldn’t she open
the blasted door?

A knock sounded a few seconds later. It broke her paralysis.
Raven took a deep breath, turned the knob and stepped aside. “You made it.”

Rylan entered without a word. As usual, his whipcord frame
was immaculately dressed, his black hair in perfect order. He walked by her,
then halted and dipped his face next to her neck and inhaled. “I see you’ve
been busy.”

Raven lifted her wrist and took a whiff.

Decay from the witch and sweat from the shifter covered her like
she’d sprits herself with the foul scent, like it had been perfume. Mortification
heated her cheeks. How did she always end up feeling like a gutter rat around
him? “Sorry. Why don’t I grab a quick shower while you get settled? Durant,
please see to it the jaguar gets clean.”

She didn’t wait for an answer, darting toward the bathroom
before either of them could stop her. It wasn’t running away, she justified, not
when she knew damned well that they would both simply wait until she’d finished
her shower. So shoot her if she took a little extra time washing away the
smell.

Once she toweled her hair, she knew she couldn’t put off the
inevitable any longer. When she left the bathroom, she pulled up short at the
sight of Durant stretched across the bed. Rylan leaned casually against the
windowsill, watching the posted guards, while the jaguar peered through the
doorway into the bedroom. When he saw her, he sneaked into the room, found a
corner, and circled twice before curling up. He was still mostly naked, but he
appeared relatively clean…or just very wet. She wasn’t sure which.

“Did you spray him down?” She narrowed her eyes on Durant.

He raised an imperious brow, seemingly surprised that she
asked. “You wanted him clean.”

Raven sighed and yanked the folded blanket off the end of
the bed. She should just be grateful he’d listened.

The jaguar—even in his human form, she couldn’t think of him
any other way—watched her through narrow slits. When she stooped and tucked the
blanket around him, he sniffed her hand, closed his eyes, and snuggled deeper under
the blanket. He appeared so content she couldn’t resist brushing a strand of
hair off his forehead.

When she glanced up, it was to find both men staring at her.

“You know he might never be more than a beast in human form.
The damage done to him is extensive.” Rylan nodded to the wounded shifter.

“They were going to kill him.”

Rylan raised a brow, his opinion obvious—she should’ve let
them—but he let it go. “What did you learn about the case?”

“Something isn’t right here, and it’s more than the murders.
Someone is stealing their powers. I think the murders are just collateral
damage.”

 The men exchanged a telling look, and Rylan spoke. “It
could be a trap.”

They meant for her. “We were discussing that very thing. It
makes no sense. Why go through the pretense and effort…not to mention the loss
of life…just to lure me here? No, something else is happening. The magic being
used isn’t normal.”

Durant crossed his arms behind his head, all relaxed as she
imagined his big cat would look lying on a rock, sunning himself. “The witches
could’ve waited for their Council to send reinforcements. The killer is very
real, but they’re using this case to study you as well. You’re a big enough prize
to warrant the trouble.”

He wasn’t being smug, only stating what he saw as the truth.

“Durant said you’re more reckless than usual.” Those keen
eyes of Rylan’s studied hers, rooting out the truth. “What happened last
night?”

Raven stiffened, her stomach churning at his question. It
was too soon for him to cast judgment. She hadn’t had time to secure Taggert’s
freedom yet. She fought the nearly overwhelming urge to bolt. “Not now. I need
more time.”

Rylan straightened from the wall and strode toward her,
intent on getting answers. “Right now is the perfect time if you’re having
trouble.”

She recognized that look. He wouldn’t relent unless she gave
him something. “I no longer have any control over my power.”

Rylan cocked his head, staring at her with those eerie blue
eyes of his. “You’ve never had control. Why is now any different?”

“Because it’s gone.”

Durant sat up abruptly, all laziness vanished as he pinned
her under his gaze like a mouse under his paw. “What do you mean it’s gone? I
saw you use it today.”

Raven grimaced, his pointed question leaving her no option
but confess. “Not exactly.”

They were going to keep picking away at her until she
admitted the truth. “Something awoke last night. My power is connected to this
creature somehow.”

Durant stood, leaned in closer, and inhaled. She locked her
knees to keep from putting distance between them, the instinctual need to keep
her secrets safe nearly overriding her good sense. He turned toward Rylan, his
brows furrowed. “If I didn’t know better, I’d swear she’s cresting.”

Raven snorted. “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m not a true blood. I
can’t shift.”

Their silence spoke volumes.

Durant was the first to speak. “I think you’re wrong. You
smell like a shifter to me.”

“You mentioned your power vanished the moment your creature awakened.
I think you’re right to believe they’re connected.” Rylan rubbed his chin. “You
could be something new.”

He didn’t sound very confident. “But you don’t think so.”

“I would lay odds you’re something really, really old. There
were a few mythical beasts, not seen for thousands of years, who are said to have
been able to wield unimaginable power.”

Raven laughed then nearly choked when neither Durant nor
Rylan joined her. “You can’t be serious.”

“You expelled a lot of power last night, plus strong
emotions tend to trigger our beasts. It could have roused the creature from its
hibernation.” Durant’s eyes were soft, his voice gentle as if to lighten the
blow.

The answer was terrifying. Each time the creature surfaced,
it became more aware.

Stronger.

And each time its possession of her became easier.

When it was awake, it dragged a slight electrical charge
from her bones, like a boost of pure excitement. She felt more alive. Sharper
and faster. The creature didn’t try to take over, and maybe that was more
frightening.

They were blending together.

“What kind of shifter?” Her voice was hoarse.

“Your powers might actually be accelerating the process.” Rylan
appeared to be completely serious. “You mustn’t let the witches see you as any
more of a threat, or they might take action.”

Something inside her trembled when he didn’t answer. “What kind
of shifter?”

Rylan tightened his lips and evaded again. “I’ll need to do
some more research.”

“Bullshit.” The urge to lunge for his throat and demand
answers was almost irresistible. The creature curled tighter around her, squeezing
the air from her lungs, and Raven froze. He was her only failsafe. She wondered
if the impulse to tear into him was to get answers or the creature’s desire to
keep him quiet and eliminate the threat.

As if sensing the danger, Rylan didn’t move, studying her
with a detachment that sent a chill down her spine. Since she was already tempted
to do him harm, she wasn’t sure it would be safe to wait and find out what she
was becoming. It would kill her to hurt those she’d come to care about most.

The creature grumbled in protest at her accusation, but Raven
ignored it.

Durant stepped between them, drawing her attention. “You’re
going through puberty.”

She blinked in response. “Say again?”

“Most kids are born with their beasts. Only a rare few awaken
later in life. The transition is so brutal most don’t survive the change.”

Raven didn’t care for the sound of that at all. “If what you
say is true, what can I expect?”

“Your beast will be stronger and harder to get along with since
you missed the chance to grow and learn together. It could take years before
the battle for dominance is settled.”

She gulped at the prospect of battling herself for so long. “You’re
kidding, right?”

“If you both survive and mature, you will shift.”

At his announcement, everything stilled and she nearly fell
on her ass.

She glanced at Rylan to gauge his response.

He eased back and leaned against the wall, crossing one foot
over the other. “It makes sense. You were born with the power. The labs might
have suppressed the beast, but she’s starting to wake up now.”

And it wanted its power back.

She was losing everything. The beast had emerged once when
they broke out of the labs, and she’d nearly killed everyone in the process. Raven
was terrified that if it happened again no one within her reach would survive.

While she and Rylan continued to stare at each other, Durant
strolled to the bathroom. “Why don’t I give you a little privacy and get ready
for bed?”

Raven appreciated the gesture, but knew he’d be able to hear
every word thanks to his annoyingly acute shifter hearing.

The door clicked shut behind him. “You knew.”

Rylan shrugged, not denying the accusation. “Not really, but
you’re at least part shifter, so it makes sense.”

“How do I stop it?” The creature flinched and hunkered down as
if she’d smacked it, but Raven didn’t care. It was hard not to march over there
and shake answers out of him.

His face softened, and it was like a blow to her gut. “I
don’t think you can.”

“There has to be something.” Panic threatened to strangle
her, and she glared at him to take back the words. “You saw what happened last
time I lost myself in the creature.”

Hatred glowed in his eyes, and he lunged forward. The
elusive scent of spice filled her lungs when he stopped, his face just inches
from hers. “You killed people who deserved killing. You have to trust yourself
more. I know what you’re capable of doing, and I trust you with my life.” His
blue eyes warmed, and he tugged on a strand of her hair. “Shifting won’t change
who you are.”

Uncomfortable under his regard, she turned away and nearly
tumbled on the bed.

Damned small room.

As if to underscore her point, Durant entered the room—without
a shirt—and reduced it to the size of a shoebox. She scurried away from the
bed…all two feet she could manage, and Durant’s eyes narrowed.

“If you’re through running and hiding, maybe you can explain
what the hell you were doing today?”

This again. Raven huffed. “I almost caught the killer.”

“Or he almost caught you.” He stalked closer, planting his
hands on either side of her head, caging her against the wall. “You spooked the
killer. He knows you’re here now. Promise me you’ll be more careful.”

His husky voice skated down her spine like a caress, the
cadence lulling her to do whatever he wanted. His eyes warmed to a molten gold,
swirling with emotions so strong she almost burned.

He was doing that damned hypnotizing thing again.

The manipulative ass.

“You’re cheating.”

He only raised a brow. “I’m not even touching you.”

Yet
remained unspoken, and she gulped. She was
susceptible to his charms, and the smug ass knew it, willing to use everything
at his disposal to get his way.

She’d almost succumbed, wanted to so badly she could taste
it, but there was no way she would let him get away with leading her around whenever
he felt like it. She reached out and pinched him…or tried to. Damned if she
could find any fat.

“Back off.” In spite of her command, and much to her
mortification, her fingers lingered against the hot muscles that packed his abdomen.
When he continued to hover temptingly close, desperation tumbled through her
gut. If she didn’t escape now, she wouldn’t have the will left to walk away. She
pulled up a string of energy and let a tiny spark dance over his skin. He
grunted at the impact, and whatever spell he wove around them snapped. He took
his own sweet time before turning away, clearly stating that he was allowing her
to win.